The cabinet is considering continuing Dutch involvement in Afghanistan past the August 2010 pull-out date following Nato’s formal request for a delay, defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop told reporters on Tuesday.

Nato has made an official request to the Netherlands to stay in Afghanistan with a smaller mission focused on training local police and soldiers, news agency ANP reports. The Netherlands currently has some 1,800 soldiers and support staff in the region.
The Netherlands has also come under increasing pressure from the US to stay in Afghanistan beyond August.
The Dutch cabinet has been divided. The biggest party, the CDA, backs extending the Dutch role, but Labour want a speedy pull out. They have pledged to reach a deal by early March.
On Monday it emerged that both parties would support giving the Netherlands a greater role in training Afghan soldiers and police officers as a potential compromise.